BJP killed lokpal bill: Rahul Gandhi

Asserting that a "strong lokpal" would be brought in the next session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday trained his guns on the BJP, saying it had "killed" the bill for granting constitutional status to the anti-corruption watchdog.

Asserting that a "strong lokpal" would be brought in the next session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday trained his guns on the BJP, saying it had "killed" the bill for granting constitutional status to the anti-corruption watchdog.

Rahul, who had floated the idea of giving constitutional status to lokpal, said a strong lokpal is a dream of Congress that will come true.

The AICC General Secretary claimed the BJP leaders were all smiles in the Lok Sabha when the Bill to amend the constitution in this regard fell through in the lower house last month.

"A strong lokpal bill would be brought in the next session of Parliament without caring about opposition to it", Rahul said while addressing a series of meetings on the fourth day of his five-day election tour of Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul hit out at the BJP over its lokpal bill strategy, saying they shout anti-corruption slogans in public and then "kill" lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha.

"They(BJP leaders) were smiling in the Lok Sabha and said lokpal is not their dream but ours--Manmohan Singhji, Rahul Gandhiji and Sonia Gandhiji's.

"I agree. A strong lokpal is our dream. Just wait and watch, we will bring a Constitutional lokpal and defeat them," he said.

Rahul also accused BSP supremo and UP chief minister Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav of keeping mum on the issue of reservation of Muslims during their reign as head of the state government.

On separate quota for Muslims, Rahul said that till it was announced, Mulayam had been silent on the issue but ever since a decision was taken by the UPA government he has been raising questions on it.

Rahul asked Mulayam to openly state how much reservation he would provide to Muslims but said the SP leader would not do so.

"Mulayam has been the CM thrice and Mayawati four times. But not once they spoke about reservation(for Muslims) when they were chief ministers, not once did they mention reservation," he said.

He charged Mulayam with betraying Muslims by befriending former BJP leader Kalyan Singh.

He also made light Samajwadi Party's slogan of "ummed ki cycle" stressing that it had been punctured thrice.

On BSP, he reiterated his charge that there is an 'elephant' in the state which eats notes instead of leaves which has impeded the progress. Elephant is the poll symbol of BSP.

The central funds for UP whether for MNGRGS or any other scheme it falls prey to corruption, he said.

Exhorting the people to ensure development of the state, Rahul said north Indians wander around for employment and go to Maharashtra where they are threatened by Shiv Sena supporters . He asked people to make their state better so that no one is able to point fingers at them and their honour and respect is not challenged in other states.